The researcher, from UFRJ (Federal University of Rio de Janeiro), stated this Saturday (7 March 2026) in an interview that she will make corrections to the scientific article on the first tests on humans with , a substance investigated to treat spinal cord injuries. The study was released in February 2024 as a pre-print – a preliminary version of a scientific work released before peer review. According to her, the new version will have technical adjustments and changes in the presentation of results.
Polylaminin is a protein derived from laminin, a molecule present in human body tissues and associated with cell support. The treatment hypothesis is that the substance, when applied to the injured spinal cord, can stimulate the regeneration of nerve connections. The research was conducted over the course of about two decades and began testing on 8 human patients in 2018.
The researcher gained prominence in early 2026 when she gave interviews alongside Bruno Drummonda study participant who returned to walking after injuring his entire neck in a car accident. The preliminary study analyzed 8 patients: 4 had partial improvement, 3 died and 1 case, Drummond’s, showed complete improvement.
Sampaio stated that the original pre-print had problems with writing and data presentation. One of the errors cited involves a graph in which information from a patient who died 5 days after the procedure appeared as if there had been follow-up for around 400 days. “It was a typo”said the researcher.
The 1st corrected version of the article was submitted to scientific journals, such as the publisher Springer Nature and the Journal of Neurosurgerybut was rejected. Sampaio stated that he is preparing a new version for submission and that the text will not be released publicly before being accepted by a scientific journal.
WHAT IS POLYLAMININE
A is the laboratory-synthesized version of laminin, a protein that the human body produces in large quantities during the embryonic phase and which is extracted from placentas.
In simpler terms, laminin acts in the organization and growth of neuronal tissues, especially axons –“biological bridges” that allow electrical impulses to circulate between one neuron and another or even a muscle. Electrical transmission is interrupted when there is a spinal cord injury.
If proven effective, polylaminin, when injected into the space where tissue rupture occurred, will allow “recreate” the bridge between the neurons located above and below the lesion. This way, they would communicate again and reestablish the flow of electrical impulses that control movements and sensations and transmit information such as pain, temperature and touch.
The drug is not yet registered and is in phase 1 of the clinical study, released on January 5th by Anvisa (National Health Surveillance Agency). To access treatment, patients have turned to the courts.
